Invalid bed with fluid operated sections



vMan-ch 31, 1953 N. H. PARDOE INVALID BED WITH FLUID OPERATED SECTIONS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. a, 1956 1) Norman H. Far doe ATTORNEYS.

March 31, 1953 N. H. PARDOE INVALID BED WITH FLUID OPERATED SECTIONS 'sSheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1950 INVENTOR. Norman. 1-1.? 5.1T dc: E1

ATTORNEYS.

raised.

Patented Mar. 31, 1953 IUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INVALID BED WITHFLUID OPERATED SECTIONS Norman H. Pardoe, Lusby, Md., assignor to AlbertJ. MacDonald, Malden, Mass.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

498,105, August 10, 1943. This application August 8, 1950, Serial No. 178,223

justmentof the sections to any number of temporarily fixed positions,and auxiliary means for preventing changes of the adjustment by theinvalid Thus, a nurse or attendant may make a suitable adjustment .ofthe sections and then secureithe adjustment against change thereof bytheinvalid. I

Still .another'important object is to provide a hydraulically-operated,adjustable head and/or foot section invalid bed wherein the adjustmentmay be made'without jars or jerks on the part of the section elevatingand lowering means.

Yet another object is to provide a hydraulically-operated, adjustablehead and/or foot section invalid bed, the, operating means for thesections being compact and within easy reach without stooping.

Another object is to provide manipulating means for an adjustable headand/or foot section invalid bed, which means may be readily attached toeither side of a bed.

Still another important object is to provide an invalid bed, wherein adoubly adjustable foot section is provided, since the foot sectioncomprises two portions, pivoted together, so that there may be anangular adjustment of the two portions as well as an angular adjustmentof the entire foot section with reference to any other section, or sothat the foot section may be raised and the two portions thereof be insubstantially the same plane.

Q Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the novel bedwith the head and foot sections lowered.

Figure-2 is a fragmentary top plan of the same, with operating mechanismpartly bracket-supported thereby.

Figure 3 is a view, somewhat similar to Figure 1, but with portions ofthe operating means in vertical section, and the head and foot sectionsFigure 4 is a fragmentary portion of the novel bed, with the twoportions of the foot section in fsustantially the same plane.

- Figure I5 is a fragmentary portion of the bed, and with the twoportions of the foot section in a position different from those ofFigures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section substantially;

on the line 6-6 of Figure 3. b

Figure 7 is a vertical section on substantially the line 1-1 of Figure3.

Figure 8 is a vertical section thru a bracket adapted to be attached tothe bed and the oper- Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation, with two:portions in section, of a supporting band for part of the operatingmechanism.

1 Figure 11 is a pivotal connection between cylinders of the operatingmechanism and the bedframe, also employed in the novel bed.

Figure 12 is a section thru a portion of a pump cylinder, and sideelevations of check valves employed in the pump with their housings insection.

Figure 13 is a vertical section of a cylinder ernployed in the operatingmechanism of the novel;

bed assembly.

- In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, theletter A may designate the novel bed as a whole, the letter B the bedframe; C a mattress supporting means; D means for adjusting the mattresssupporting means; and E means for rendering the means D inoperative.

The bed frame B may include a conventional head board It], foot boardII, a pair of side rails I2 connecting the head and foot boards I0 andII, and there may be provided preferably two pairs ofhorizontally-disposed stubs or members I3 and I4 extending inwardly fromthe side rails [2 at spaced apart intervals between the head and footboards Ill and II, the stubs I3 facing each other and the stubs [4 alsofacing each other.

A mattress supporting means C is provided and preferably comprises afixed section l5, a first movable or pivoted section It and a secondmovable or pivoted section II, spaced inwardly of the gertical planes ofthe side rails I2, as in Figure The fixed section I5 may be supported inany approved way to the side rails I2, as by brackets I8 and the sectionI5 includes side bars or members I9 having tongues 20 at their ends.Suitable supporting wires ZI may extend from one bar I9 to the oppositebar I9. The fixed section I5 disposed intermediate the head and footboards 10 and II and, in the example shown, is substantially midwaythese boards.

At the head board end of the means. C is. the first movable section Hi.It is provided with side bars or members 22, which may be similar to thebars I9 and an end bar or member 23 joining the side bars 22 at the headboard end of the section l6. Preferably, a rigid stub or member 24extends inwardl fromeachv of; the side bars 22 intermediate the ends ofthe. side bars. At their free ends, the side bars 22 are slotted, as at25 to accommodate. the. tongues 20, so that suitable pivot pins mayconnect the sections and I6. Supporting wires 26 may extend from oneside bar 22 to the other and be disposed above the rigid stubs 24.Pivoted as shown andv described, the first movable section may assumevarious inclined planes. If desired, a pair of bumpers 21 may extendoutwardly and downwardly from the side bars 22 to the, side rails l2.

The second movable section. I! is disposed at thefootboard end of themeans C and is, preferably, in two portions 28 and 29, theseportionsbeing pivoted together, at. the ends of their respective sidebars or members 30v and SI, in the. tongue, slot and pivot pin manner ofpivotallyconnecting the first movable section IE to the fixed sectionl5, and the portion 28, being nearest the fixed section I5 is pivotallyconnected thereto in the same tongue, slot and pivot pin manner. Theside bars 3| of the portion 29 are joined together by an end bar 32.Depending from the. side bar 3| may be a pair of conventional rollers 54contacting the uppermost faces of the side rails l2. Supporting wires35- may extend from one side bar 30 to the other and from one side bar-31 to the other as well as from one side bar '30 tothe other side bar 3!as in- Figure 2, where it will also be noticed that, in places, thevarious supporting wires 21, 26 and 35 overlap. Depending from each ofthe side bars 36 is a pair of spaced-apart perforated ears 36; and: fromeach of the side bars 3|, a pair of spacedapart perforated earsBl, thesepairs of ears-being nearest the pivotal connection oftheportions 28 and29, all for a purpose later to be described.

' Means D foradjustingthe mattress supporting means C so that themovable sections Hi and IT, as well as the portions 28 and 29 may bemoved to assume various inclined positions as well as to lay flat,includes, preferably, a pair of cylinders' 40, for the movable sectioni6; pivotally connected to the bed frame B at adjacent the side rails[2, as by hangers 4| pivotally carried by the stubs l3. Normally, thesecylinders are inclined from the vertical, with their lower ends nearestthe head board l0. Each cylinder 46 is provided with a piston 42 and apiston rod 43 extending from a piston 42, upwardly thru a cylinder 40'to the rigid stub. 24', where it is preferably pivotally connectedthereto as, for example, as shown in Figure 9, where a conventionalsplit coupling is shown, of two portions 44 and 45 each having asemi-circular depression 46, adapted to loosely embrace the bar 24,secured together as by bolts 41 and nuts 48.

Suitable supported from the bed frame 13 is a plate 54'. The support forthis plate 54 may be a removable clamp portion and associated bracketportion 55, shown particularly in Figure 8-, where a split clamp portion56 embrace a side rail 12' and the bracket portion 51 extends upwardlyas at 58 and outwardly as at 59 and is attached to the underside of'theplate 54 as by screws 60 as in Figures 8 and 2. Since there are similararcuate rows of screw threaded sockets 6| adjacent each side edge ofthe, plate. 54, the support for the plate 54 may be attached thereto ateither side, whereby the plate may be positioned at either side of thebed.

This plate 54 is preferably flat and horizontally disposed and providedwith a perforation 62, shown in Figure 3, and four screw threadedperforations 63, as the example in Figure 7, for a purpose to bedescribed. It will be noted in Figure 2 that the plate 54 is whollyoutside the vertical planes of the bed frame B and means C. While itsmain function is to support portions of the means D to be described, itmay be employed as a table top tofadvantage. Extending upwardly from theplate 54 is, a pivot means, 64 for apump handle to be subsequentlydescribed.

Secured to its in any approved, way, as by the screw t5,v and dependingfrom the. bottom of the. plate. 54 is a. tank or reservoir 66, for fluid61, disposed intermediate the ends of the plate, From, this reservoirextends a. pipe 58 leac'lingv to the bottom portion of a pump cylinderor housing 69 with a suitable check valve. 10 adapted to admit fluid 61to the pump housing 69 from the tank 66 but prevent. its return theretothru the pipe 68. The. pump mechanism may include. a pump piston H, anda pumpv rod 12 secured thereto at one end and with its other end ex-.tending upwardly thru the perforation 62 in the plate 54, forreciprocation, therethrough.

A suitable, preferably removable, pump handle 13 is provided, pivoted atone end to. the pivot; means 64, extending thru an eye 14. in the upperend of the. rod 12 and disposed, normally substantially horizontally andprojecting toward the head of the bed, so as to be within reach, of aninvalid or other person in the bed. A.

The pivoted end of the pump handle '13 may be inwardly curved as at 15,and provided with a spring-y metal snap 16 secured to'the end of thecurve, providing, in effect, a snap hook extending thru an eye 11 in themeans 64, so that the handle may be slid toward the foot of the. bed andreadily removed, whereupon it would be very difiicult to operate thepump.

Pivotally secured to each pair of dependingears 36 of the side bars 30,is a cylinder 18, shown particularly in Figure 13, having a piston 19and piston rod extending through the cylinder 18 and pivotally connectedat its free end to and between one pair of the ears 3'! of the side bars3|. So disposed, the two cylinders 13 lie mainly underneath portions ofthe side bars 30 and 3! and are adapted to operate to provide theadjustments shown in Figures 4 and 5, as wellas many other adjustments,of the portions 2-8 and 29, when the movable section I! is raised withthe rollers 34 out of contact with the side rails l2. At the base ofeach cylinder 78 is a conventional nipple 8| leading to the chamber 82within the cylinder;

From the bottom of the pump housing 69- extends a suitable perforationsurrounded; by a pipe coupling for a conduit section 83- which mayextend under the tank 66 and then upwardly to a valve block to bedescribed. A suitable check valve 84 maybe provided at the pump. end ofthe conduit section 83 to prevent return flow of fluid to the pump, asshown in Figure 12.

The valve block 85 shown particularly in Figures 6- and- 7, may be madeup of two sections, an upper section 86- and lower section 8], togetherhaving suitable spaced-apart recesses for five tions may-be joinedtogether by suitable screws 88 and secured to the side of the tank as byan encircling clamp ring 99, extending around the tank 96 and one end ofthe valve block 81, having a pair of outwardly extending perforated ears89,as in Figures Sand through which extend a bolt 99 having a nut'9I fortightening and loosening the clamp ring 99, as is well known. A suitablegasket may be disposed between the valve block 85 and tank 66, in orderto excludefluid from leaking out.

More specifically, there is provided in the block sections 86 and 81 ahorizontally-disposed valve recess and valve 92 which controls thepassage of fluid 61 from the pump to valves 93, 94 and 95. There is asuitable horizontally-disposed recess and a three-way valve 99 thereinto control the passage of'fiuid 61 from the valve 92 to the cylinders49, a suitable horizontally-disposed recess and a three-way valve 94 tocontrol passage of fluid61 from the valve 92 to the cylinders59, and ahorizontally-disposed recess and a threeway valve 95 to control thepassage of fluid 61 fromthe valve 92 to the cylinders 18.

From an end of the conduit section 93 which end is coupled to the bottomof the valve block 85 in any approved way, extends a conduit section 96to one side of the valve 92; from a position 45 from where the conduitsection 96 opens into thevalve 92, extends a conduit section 91 tonneside of the valve 93, from substantially 45 around'the valve 93 fromthis conduit section 91 extends a conduit section 98 to the exterior ofthe valve block and to a suitable nipple 99 secured to the block. From aposition substantially 150 around the valve 92 from the conduit section96 is a conduit section I99 leading to one side of the valve 94; from aposition substantially 90 around the valve '94 from the conduit sectionI99 is a conduit section I9I leading to the exterior valve block andterminatin in a nipple I92; and from a positionsubstantially 210 aroundvalve 92 from the conduit section 96 is a conduit section I99 leading toone side of the valve 95. It will be noted in Figure 6 that there isalso an arcuate opening I94 in thevalve 92 of somewhat greater than 90.

Extending from a position around the valve 95 1 from a location about 90from the conduit I93 is an L-shaped conduit I94 leading to the bottom ofthe valve block 85 and to a conventional nipple I94 extending from thebottom.

Extending from the nipple 99 is a conduit section195 provided with twobranches I96 and I91 to each of the cylinders 49, from the nipple I92extends a conduit section I98 having two branches I99 and H9 tocylinders 59 and from the nipple I94'e'x'tends a conduit section IIIhaving two branches [I2 and H3 leading to the cylinders 18. From thearrangement described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, it isapparentthat fluid 61 may be controlled to flow to and from either'the cylinders59 to elevate or lower the movable section I1, to the cylinders 49 toelevate or lower the movable section I6, to the cylinders 19 to adjustthem as desired or may flow to elevate and lower both sections I6 and.I1 as well as hold the portions 28 and 29 of the section I1 rigid, allat the same time. Of. course, with a proper valve manipulation, thecylinders 18.may be operated inde-' pendently of the other cylinders.Preferably suitablevalve stems for control of the valves 92, 93, :94 and95 extend upwardly thru the valve block and'plate 54, and terminate inhandles 5, H6, H1 and H8. These handles or the upper face of the plate54 may contain suitable indicia for manipulation of the valves. In orderto relieve the system of an excessive fluid pressure, if

such excessive pressure might develop a suitable by-pass is provided,which may comprise an L- shaped conduit I29 extending from intermediatethe ends of the conduit section 96 to the interior of the tank 66.Interposed in this conduit I29 is a suitable pressure valve, shown as aspring-urged ball valve I2 I.

In order to prevent lowering of the movable sections I6 and I1 even whenthe valve handles I15, I I6 and H1 are manipulated (of course raising ofthe sections I6 and I1 is prevented by removal of the handle 13) a valveassembly is provided, with its stem and handle, remote from the head ofthe bed and beneath the plate 54, substantially out of reach of theoccupant of the bed.l

one side of the valve I25 extends a conduit sec-.

tion I21 to the side of the block adjoining the tank 66 where aperforation in the gasket between the block and tank and a perforationin the tank wall provides a passageway for fluid back to the tank.Substantially 45 around the valve I25 from this conduit section I21 is aconduit section I28 to the valve 93,-aligning at the point it reachesthe velve 93, with the conduit section 98, substantially around thevalve I 25 from the conduit section I28 is a conduit section I29 to thevalve 94, aligning at the point it reaches the valve 94, with theconduit section IIII, and substantially 90 from the conduit sections I21and I29 is a conduit section I39 to the valve 95, aligning at the pointit reaches the valve with the conduit section I94.

From Figure 7 will be seen that an eight turn of valve I25 will closeoff all conduit sections I28, I29 and I39, while the position of thevalve I25- in Figure 7 and positions of valves 93, 94 and 95 as inFigure 6 will permit fluid to slowly drain back into the tank due to theweight of the occupant upon the elevated movable section I6 and/or I1.Of course, some steady pressure of any kind upon the sections I6 and I!will cause back-flow of fluid, but such back-flow can be prevented bymanipulation of valve I 25, as ex-' plained. Of course, manualadjustment of the degree of angularity of the portions 28 and 29 may beeffected when valve I25 is in the position shown in Figure 7.

When the movable section I1 rises it will form various inverted Vs incross section, as shown in; Figures 3 and 5 so that an occupant of thebed A; may bend his legs.

Since there is no ratchet nor wholly manual operation of raising andlowering the movable sections, but a steady even movement, freeof'jarsor jerks, there is no abrupt movement imparted to the bed occupantsbody.

With the pump handle 13 within easy reach of the bed occupant, he mayraise the sections as desired, and both manipulation of the handle, aswell as the consequent bending of the body, pro-; vides slow, evenmovements to the body, if such exercise is desirable, since the occupantmay alternately raise and lower the movable sections Omthe: other" hand,byremoval. of; the pump. handle 13: and; proper manipulation of thevalve 1.2.5,. the movable sections may be-fixed into position againstchange by the.- bed occupant, for they valve handle. [26 of the valve125 is both belowthe plate M and faces: away from the occupant, being:concealed. by the intervening pump 6 9 tank, Eli and. valve block 85,,as. Well as by the plate.- 54.,

- While. the degree of angularity of the portions 28 and .29 may bevaried... it is. possible to make av hydraulic adjustment as shown inFigure 4,, which could not be readily efiected without the use of. the:cylinders 18.

' Various. changes in the shape, size and arrangement of. parts may bemade, without departing. from. the, spirit. of. the. invention. or thescope of. the. claims.

.- I. claim :1

- 1. In. aninvalid bed, a bed frame including-a head board, a foot boardand side rails: a. mattressrsupporting means, including a fixed section.carried by said rails and disposed. intermediate the. head and footboards, a. first movable; section extending from said head board to anend. of said fixed section andpivoted at, said fixed section, and asecond movable section extending.

from the. opposite end of said fixed section to said foot. board andpivoted atsaid fixed section; opcrating means for swinging said movablesections into various planes above the. horizontal planes.of'said'rails, including a substantially horizontaldisposedi platesupported by oneof' said side rails inaposition-outwardly of thevertical planes of said frame, a fluid, a reservoir for said fluid,carried by said plate, a pump for said fluid, op-- erati-vely connectedwith said reservoir and carried by-said plate, apump'handle pivoted atoneend to said plate, operatively connected with said pump,substantially paralleling said rails and extending toward said headboard, a cylinder carried by said frame adjacent said first movablesection, a cylinder carried by said frame adjacent said second movablesection, a piston and a piston rod for each cylinder with theireeend ofone rod operatively connected withsaid first movablesection, and thefree end of the other rod operative- 1y connected with saidsecondmovable section, a conduit from said pump to adjacent the bases of saidcylinders and a conduit opening into said first'conduit and extending tosaid reservoir,

means to'direct fluid from said pump selectively to eitherorboth of.said cylinders, and releasable means to prevent return of fluid to saidreservoirfrom said, cylinders, said means being interposed at thejuncture of said conduits and disposed below said plate and at alocation remote from the free, end ofsaid pump handle.

21 In an invalid bed, a bed frame including a head board, a foot. boardand side rails," a mattress supporting' means, including a fixed sectioncarried by said rails and disposed intermediate the head and footboards, a first movable section extending from said head board to anendof said; fixed section and pivoted, at, said fixed section, and; a.second movable section extending from the. Opposite end of 'saidfixedsection to said foot board and pivoted. at. said fixed, section;operating meansior swinging said movablesections into. various. planes,above thehorizontal planes oi said. side rails, including a.substantially horizontall'y-disposed plate-supported by one of saidsiderails. in a position outwardly of thevertical planes of. said frame,av fluid, a reservoir for said fluid, carried by,- said plate a pump forsaid, fluid, operatively connected with aid reservoirandcarried by said;plate, a pump handle. pivotediat. one end to said plate, operativelyconnected with said pump, substantially paralleling said rails andextending toward said head board, a. cylinder carried by said frameadjacent said first movable section, a cylinder carried by said frame.adjacent. said; second movable section, a. piston and a. piston rod foreachcylinder withthe. free. end of onerod operatively connected withsaid first movable section, and the free end of the other rodoperatively connected with said. second movable section, a conduit fromsaid pump to adjacent, the bases of said cylinders and a conduit.opening into said. first conduit and extending to said reservoir; valvemeans to direct fluid from said pump to either or both of saidcylinders; and releasable means to preventreturn; of fluidv to saidreservoir from. said cylinders.v said last means being-inter-- posed at.the. juncture of said conduits and dis-- posed at a location remote fromthe. free end of said pump handle.

3., In an invalid bed, a bed. frame including a headboard, a foot boardand side rails; a mat-- tress-supporting means, including a fixedsection carried by said rails and disposed intermediate. the head andfoot. boards, a first movable section extending from said head boardtoan end of said fixed section and pivoted to said fixed. section,.and a.second movable section extending from the opposite end of; said fixedsection to said foot board. and pivoted at, said fixed section;operating means for swinging said, movable sections into various planesvabove the horizontal planes of said rails, including a substantiallyhorizontally disposed plate supported by one of said rails in a.position, outwardly of the vertical planes. of said, frame, a fluid, a.reservoir for said fluid, carried by said plate, a, pump for said fluid,operatively connected with said reservoir and carried by said plate, apump handle. pivoted to said plate, op.- eratively connected with saidpump, extending, toward said head board, a cylinder pivotally carried bysaid frame adjacent said. first movable section, a. cylinder pivotallycarried by said frame adjacent said second movable. section, a, piston.and a piston rod for each cylinder with the free end of one rodoperatively connected with said first movable section, and the free endof. the other rod operatively connected with said. second movablesection, a conduit. from. said pumpto adjacent the bases. of saidcylinders, a. conduit. opening into said first. conduit. and. extendingto. said reservoir, valve means. to direct fluid from. said pumpselectively to either or both of said cylinders, and releasable, meansto prevent return of said fluid to said reservoir from said cylinders.and render said operatingmeans inoperative, said. last means beinginterposed at the juncture of said conduits.

H. PARDOE:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the. file ofthis patent.

UNITED. STATES PATENTS. Number

